Soul Food When we ask God to give us our daily bread, this is not only a request for physical food in our stomach. Our souls require spiritual nourishment from God with even greater urgency. This food from Heaven is primarily received in the form of God Himself, His very
Author: Abbot Tryphon
I am abbot of All-Merciful Saviour Orthodox Monastery (ROCOR) on Vashon Island, WA. The island is a twenty minute ferry ride from West Seattle, and a fifteen minute crossing from Tacoma.
Surrounded by the Salish Sea, the island is some 87% undeveloped forest, with a rural population of around eleven thousand citizens. If you wish to contact me personally, you can email me at: abbottryphon@vashonmonks.com
Enlighten The Darkness Today in the Church, we celebrate a feast on the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. This might seem strange in a world where the powerful often censor, imprison, and execute their critics. Even if we sympathize with those who have been targeted in these ways, we
No Hate If there is to be peace in our world, it must begin within us. We must choose to reject hatred for anyone, and choose to love everyone, instead. We cannot blame the world, or even those around us, for the hatred the destroys our peace. That which happens
Timeless Temples Orthodox temples have kept to the same form and function since ancient times. Using the Old Testament Temple model, Orthodox churches are divided into several courts or spaces peculiar to their function. The Holy Table, upon which is celebrated the Eucharist, is situated at the east end of
Just A Temptation Do you ever find yourself beset by a thought that robs you of peace and demands your attention? This thought is evil, a temptation, borne either of your own fallen impulses or inspired by demons. God is peace. Do not fight this thought by arguing with it,
Beloved in Christ I had two back surgeries, the second one was accompanied by complications that left me hospitalized for a month. So now I’m in a skilled nursing facility, going through rehab to get my strength back. I hope to be released to return to the monastery soon. In
Live Like Christ If we desire to please God, we only need to live our lives in imitation of Christ, Who both taught, and lived, humility. In our steadfastness in faith, modesty of attire, and simplicity in words and conversation, we imitate Christ. In our works of mercy, and in
No Despair It is only human to become despondent when we have failed in keeping to our moral, ethical and spiritual standards, succumbing, instead, to temptation. Our Orthodox Faith teaches that we must be compassionate towards others, loving, quick to forgive, exemplar in our Christian living, and always demonstrating to
Who Are You? There are two types of Christians. There are those who can say with the Apostle Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20)”. And then there are those Christians who believe Christ was
Fear of Failure It is easy to be critical of another person by finding fault with what we perceive they are doing, have done, or have not done perfectly. Yet the man who points out how another man has stumbled, finding fault in something he himself has not done, and